Primary election

6:13 pm

Wed August 1, 2012

King county voters will decide whether to replace juvenile detention facility

If voters approve King Co. Prop. 1, the Youth Services Center, at 12th and E. Alder, would be replaced.

Paula WisselKPLU

King County Proposition 1 would replace what’s called the Youth Services Center at 12th Avenue and East Alder Street with a brand new facility. The current buildings sit on 9 acres of a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood near Seattle University. The proposal includes selling off 3 corners of the property to developers.

The 40 year old facilities are rundown and have had problems with rusty pipes and the like. But proponents say simply sprucing it up won't fix the underlying design issues.

For example, the courtroom space is arranged so that everyone is in a single lobby.

Keep in mind it’s not just children in trouble who end up in court. Judges are also deciding, for example, if a child will be removed from a home.